The radial artery is the blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood in the forearm. You can feel the pulse of the radial artery by feeling the forearm just underneath the thumb. There are three arteries in the normal forearm that carry blood to the hand.

RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------

ArteryA blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body.

BloodThe life-maintaining fluid which is made up of plasma, red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and platelets; blood circulates through the body's heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries; it carries away waste matter and carbon dioxide, and brings nourishment, electrolytes, hormones, vitamins, antibodies, heat, and oxygen to the tissues.

ForearmThe portion of the upper limb from the elbow to the wrist. In popular usage, the arm extends from the shoulder to the hand. However, in medical terminology, the arm refers to the upper extremity extending from the shoulder only to the elbow. The arm is thus distinguished in medical usage from the forearm, which extends from the elbow to the wrist.The forearm has 2 bones: the radius and ulna.

PulseThe heartbeat as felt through the walls of an artery.

FeelingThose affective states which can be experienced and have arousing and motivational properties.

ArteriesBlood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the arms, legs, head, body and organs.

SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------

Radiation colitisDamage to the colon from radiation therapy.

Radiation enteritisDamage to the small intestine from radiation therapy.

Radiation oncologist/radiation therapistA radiologist who specializes in the use of radioactive substances and x-rays for the treatment of tumors and cancer.

Radio-iodinated I 125 serum albumin humanRadio-iodinated I 125 serum albumin human is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): albumin iodinated I-125 serum.

Radioactive TracerA low-dose radioactive dye or contrast medium injected into a blood vessel as part of an imaging procedure.

RadiofrequencyAn invasive procedure that involves heating tissue in order to destroy it.; used to treat some types of rapid heart rhythms.

Radiogardase prussian blueRadiogardase prussian blue is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): ferric hexacyanoferrateII.

RadiographyThe treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to radiation.

Radioimmunoassay (RIA)A widely used technique for measurement of primary antigen-antibody interactions, and for the determination of the level of important biological substances in mixed samples. It takes advantage of the specificity of the antigen-antibody interaction and the sensitivity that derives from measurement of radioactively labelled materials.

Radioiodinated serum albumin human ihsa I 125Radioiodinated serum albumin human ihsa I 125 is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): albumin iodinated I-125 serum.

RadioisotopeA radioactive material injected into the body so that a nuclear scanner can make pictures.

Radioisotope scanUses radioactive substances introduced into the body to create an image of the functioning adrenal gland.

RadiologistA physician trained in the use of radioactive substances, x-rays, and other imaging techniques to arrive at a diagnosis.

RadiologyThe branch of medicine that deals with the use of x-rays.

Radionuclide scansTests to find GI bleeding. Radioactive material is injected to highlight organs on a special camera. Also called scintigraphy.

Radionuclide ventriculographyA diagnostic procedure used to determine the shape and size of the heart's chambers.

Radionuclide-labeled 125 I fibrinogen human sensorRadionuclide-labeled 125 I fibrinogen human sensor is a prescription or over-the-counter drug which is (or once was) approved in the United States and possibly in other countries. Active ingredient(s): fibrinogen, I-125.

RadiosurgeryA radiation therapy technique that uses a large number of narrow, precisely aimed, highly focused beams of ionising radiation. The beams are aimed from many directions circling the head and meet at a specific point.

RadiotherapySpecific treatment of diseases such as cancer using high energy X-rays.

PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------

Renal GlycosuriaGlycosuria occurring when there is a normal amount of sugar in the blood, due to an inherited inability of the kidneys to reabsorb glucose completely.

Renal ThresholdWhen the blood is holding so much of a substance such as glucose (sugar) that the kidneys allow the excess to spill into the urine. This is also called "kidney threshold," "spilling point," and "leak point."

Risk FactorAnything that raises the chance that a person will get a disease. With noninsulin-dependent diabetes, people have a greater risk of getting the disease if they weigh a lot more (20 percent or more) than they should.

Rosiglitazone (Avandia)A drug used as a treatment for Type 2 (noninsulin-dependent) diabetes; belongs to a class of drugs called thiazolidinediones.

ROOT CANAL THERAPYWhen a tooth abscesses or has a pulp (nerve) exposure due to decay or trauma, root canal therapy or endodontic treatment is performed so that the damaged tooth may remain in the mouth and be saved. Years ago, if a tooth abscessed, it had to be extracted. Today dentists can save teeth by removing the pulp, the soft tissue in the root, cleaning and shaping the canal or canals and filling the root to seal out recontamination of the root system. This procedure is usually done in one to three visits with relatively little pain. If the abscess is severe, antibiotics may be used to help heal the infection. In almost all cases a crown and post (See "Crown") will be needed to restore the tooth to proper function and appearance. Root canal teeth can last a lifetime with proper care of the teeth and gums.

Radial Artery

Radioactive TracerA low-dose radioactive dye or contrast medium injected into a blood vessel as part of an imaging procedure.

RadiofrequencyAn invasive procedure that involves heating tissue in order to destroy it.; used to treat some types of rapid heart rhythms.

Raynaudís PhenomenonSpasms of the small arteries of the fingers, and sometimes, the toes, brought on by exposure to cold or excitement.

RecipientA patient who receives an organ, tissue or blood from another person.

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